This week at the Concord-Carlisle Regional School Committee (RSC) meeting, Human Resource Administrator Kelly McCausland gave a report showing a 98.4% retention rate and a 100% acceptance rate for teachers offered new jobs at the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School (CCHS). Superintendent Diana Rigby observed that she had received 3,000 applications for 20 job openings.

RSC Vice-chair Fabian Fondriest asked McCausland what reasons she had heard for people accepting offers. McCausland replied, “The four-class load is a recruitment tool. We have a great reputation.” She added that the technology resources in each classroom were another plus. RSC Chair Peter Fischelis commented, “The issue of benefits is not hampering us.” McCausland said the only criticism was the lack of nearby childcare.

The report stated that five teachers retired last year, three took leaves of absence, two resigned and there was one non-rehire. Ten CCHS staff resigned, but McCausland said some of these were tutors who were resigning because they had gotten a teaching position. One of the staff retired.

McCausland showed a graph of regional school district personnel separations over the last four years. The data was very consistent. Nine teachers had left each of the last four years. Roughly ten support staff had left each year, with the exception of 2005-06, when only four staff left. RSC Chair Jerry Wedge commented, “These are very low numbers.”

Reasons for leaving included staying home with children, going to a private company, or personal reasons, such as putting careers on hold to travel or get a degree. McCausland stated that those who left to go to a different school system said they did so to lower their commuting time.

Twelve teachers were hired for the 2008-09 school year.. Three had no experience, eight had one to nine years’ experience and one had over nine years’ experience. McCausland said that experience level was generally higher for critical areas such as foreign language. The RSD also hired 14 support staff.

Fondriest summed it up, “With a 100% acceptance rate and a 98% retention rate, CCHS has better rates than any corporation.” ∆